stranger things : the pines

Prologue (1 year before season 1)

The three Pines siblings stepped out of the Indiana airport, dragging their suitcases behind them. Nate, the eldest at 15, looked around with a skeptical expression. His twin sister, Brooklyn, was beside him, her usual optimistic energy shining despite the long flight. Behind them, their younger brother June, just 11 years old, clutched his Dungeons & Dragons manual tightly, glancing curiously at the unfamiliar surroundings.

Nate sighed, speaking first. 
"Do you think we’ll be happy here?" he asked, clearly not sold on the idea of moving. "I mean, we’re going to live in a small town in Indiana. Sounds pretty boring to me."

Brooklyn, always the upbeat one, nudged her brother playfully. 
"Come on, Nate. No town is boring! Where’s your sense of adventure? You could make new friends here—maybe even find a girlfriend," she teased, making June giggle softly behind them.

Though they were twins, Nate and Brooklyn couldn’t be more different. Nate was cautious and realistic, while Brooklyn embraced life with boundless energy and optimism. And while Nate often rolled his eyes at his sister’s cheerful outlook, there was no denying the light she brought to every situation.

June, for his part, was close with his siblings. Even though he was younger, he looked up to them and loved being included in their lives. He adored his older siblings, though neither of them shared his intense passion for Dungeons & Dragons, which he often wished they did.

Their mother, Eleanor, pulled up in her red Camaro, waving as she parked at the curb. Her warm smile reassured the kids as she got out of the car and began helping them load their luggage into the trunk.

"Hey, kids!" Eleanor greeted them, a note of excitement in her voice. "How was the flight?"

Brooklyn, always quick to respond, beamed. 
"Awesome! Well, except for the part where Nate drooled during most of the flight," she added with a playful smirk.

Nate, clearly offended, crossed his arms. 
"I do not drool," he said, narrowing his eyes at his sister.

June, glancing up from his manual, grinned. 
"Yeah, you do," he added quietly, backing up his sister.

Nate groaned in frustration. 
"They're ganging up on me now, Mom," he complained.

Eleanor chuckled as she closed the trunk. 
"Alright, kids, stop teasing your brother—even if he does drool in his sleep," she added with a wink at Nate, who sighed dramatically.

The Pines family had left behind their home in Manchester, England, after the tragic death of their father in a car accident. Eleanor, hoping to rebuild their lives, decided to move to Hawkins, Indiana—a quiet place far removed from the hustle of city life, hoping it would be a peaceful refuge for her children.

As they drove through the quiet streets of Indiana, Nate stared out the window, still not entirely convinced about this new beginning.

"How’s the town?" he asked, keeping his voice neutral but laced with skepticism.

Eleanor smiled softly, glancing at him through the rearview mirror. 
"It’s a small town. Quiet, nothing too exciting. But I did meet a lovely woman while shopping. She has two boys about your ages. Her name’s Joyce. I’m sure you’ll all make friends here, Nathaniel."

Brooklyn beamed, giving her brother a nudge. 
"See? That’s what I’ve been telling him! But he’s always so grumpy."

Nate, rolling his eyes, muttered, 
"I’m not grumpy."

Brooklyn, grinning mischievously, shot back, 
"Yes, you are."

"Am not."

"Are too."